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“It was personal action that De Tocqueville mentioned as being characteristic of the American people. They were so generous, so kind, so charitably disposed.”

-Frances Perkins

SOCIAL SECURITY – SAFETY NET

Recently historian Heather Cox Richardson reviewed the history of the Social Security Act which President Roosevelt signed into law in 1935. It is a dramatic example of how community values and pooling resources can help take care of everyone. In her “Letters from an American” blog, Richardson describes how the Act

“established a federal system of old-age benefits; unemployment insurance; aid to homeless, dependent, and neglected children; funds to promote maternal and child welfare; and public health services. It was a sweeping reworking of the relationship between the government and its citizens, using the power of taxation to pool funds to provide a basic social safety net.”

FRANCES PERKINS

The driving force behind the law was Frances Perkins the first women to hold a cabinet position in the US Government. She had a vision which was vastly different from the dominant view of “rugged individualism” common at the time. Richardson reports that when asked about the origins of the Social Security Act, Frances Perkins quoted Alexis de Tocqueville who wrote that he thought Americans were uniquely “so generous, so kind and so charitably disposed.”  Perkins went on to say, “I don’t know anything about the times in which de Tocqueville visited America, but I do know that at the time I came into the field of social work, these feelings were real.”

AMERICA TURNS TO DARKNESS

What has happened to the America de Tocqueville saw as kind, generous, and charitable? Our current President and those who follow him spout rhetoric filled with hatred, lies and incendiary language. His administration has ended the American support for the poor and hungry in the world and eliminated the food programs, health care and financial support for the poor in our own country. That is not evidence of kindness, generosity, or charity. It is a return to the philosophy of “every man for himself” common in the early decades of the twentieth century.

Furthermore, our President is now clearly acting as an authoritarian, imposing his dominance over our institutions and citizens. He is ignoring conventions once taken for granted and is trying to break the judiciary. Congress has already largely ceded its power to him in its current configuration. It is no longer just a fear; it is now a reality. Project 2025 is being installed in our government as we watch cherished programs and whole government agencies being wrecked.

HUMAN VALUES ARE THE LIGHT WE NEED

My parents raised me with their traditional Christian values -- compassion, love, giving, caring about our neighbors, citizens, and fellow humans around the world. It meant we were in community with others in our neighborhood, our town, our country, and the world. It meant that we reached out to take care of those less fortunate. My father taught me that I could dislike or reject another’s behavior. But we must view others’ humanity with compassion and acceptance. He believed it was our job to learn from these situations.

Despite the rhetoric of the US President and the rants on social media, I am sure there are many other people in our country who hold those the same or similar values to mine. They are not unique; numerous spiritual and cultural traditions share and teach common human values. It is easy for me to slide into an apathetic attitude because I don’t see, read or hear about others who have those concerns and values. They are not promoted or covered in most media because those values don’t attract attention, viewers, or readers. Crime, disaster, and celebrity news boost the ratings. And it feels overwhelming!

IMMIGRANT SCAPEGOATS

Instead, we hear about Trump’s views of the immigrants as criminals and drug pushers. When I hear or read about the way immigrants are being snatched by ICE and taken away without due process, access to an attorney or even verification of wrong-doing, I am angry.  I feel compassion and understanding for the immigrants’ plight. Yes, they may have broken the law to come into our country illegally but, we have not provided a path to apply for citizenship that is efficient and available. We send mixed messages of invitation and welcoming while denying a straightforward process to citizenship. We offer opportunities to work to clean our homes, do our gardening, pick our strawberries, and fill other less desirable jobs. As a result, immigrants pay taxes and become valuable contributors to our economy.

A DIVERSE AND COMPASSIONATE WORLD

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, points out that California is the most diverse state with fourth largest economy in the world. He argues that it is our diversity that has made the state such an economic success. Indeed, research has shown that diverse teams that bring different views, perspectives and competencies are more successful than teams composed of members with similar views, perspectives, and competencies.

Appreciating such differences requires acceptance and understanding of difference and its value. It also leads to caring, compassion, and generosity when our neighbors or our work colleagues are suffering. As Americans, we have a history of recognizing the contributions of others who are different, acting with compassion and generosity when tragedy befalls our neighbors next door, across town or around the world.

The proclamation of “America first” erodes that sense of community and collaboration. It stereotypes and scapegoats brown and black people as criminals and undermines acceptance and compassion. It denies the undocumented people’s humanity and encourages hatred and violence. Even worse, “America first” promotes fear and isolation and emphasizes every person for him or herself: pursuing selfish desires rather than what supports the whole community and humanity.

HOW WE PUSH BACK AUTHORITARIAN RULE

I am proud of communities and citizens who protest ICE, walk children to school, or show up at the court when immigrants are following the law and procedures to pursue the tortuous path to gain citizenship. I am pleased that some elected officials are speaking out against the hatred and brutality that Trump promotes. But stopping this authoritarian avalanche of unlawful Executive Orders, firings, threats of retribution, and extortion of universities and law firms is overwhelming.

What the experts say is that we must mobilize large numbers of people to protest against Trump, his supporters, and their authoritarian actions. De Tocqueville also said, “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” Are there enough of us who want to repair our faults? Can we do that? Are there enough of us who are angry, worried, afraid and in despair? Are there enough of us willing to throw off our apathy and express our resistance? Are there enough of us who are willing to protest, to take a stand against authoritarianism? Are there enough of us who care, who have compassion, who believe in equality, justice, and freedom for everyone?

I believe there are.

CALL TO ACTION

Will you join me on Labor Day to show that we want to repair our faults and that we do not support a “king” or authoritarian rule?

Find an event here:  www.mobilize.us or www.indivisible.org